Milk-bottle-cap remover and reinserter



y 1930. c. R. BOLAND 757,510

MILK BOTTLE CAP REMOVER AND REINSERTER Filed Oct. 14, 1929 I @fZBoZandanormaqo l0 somewhat similar Patented May 6, 1930 UNTED fiTTlES CHARLESROYAL BOLAND, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND MILK-BOTTLE-CAP REMOVER ANDREINSERTER Application filed October 14, 1929.

Serial No. 399,540.

The invention aims to provide an eXcepshank and handle being soldered tosaid disk tionally simple and inexpensive, yet an unusually eificientand desirable device for removing milk bottle caps and re-inserting themas many times as may be desired, the construction being such that atight seal is established between the device and the cap instead ofleaving part of the opening formed by said device exposed, as in anumber of contrivances heretofore produced. The construction is also ofsuch nature that the cap and the device are so tightly connected witheach other that there is no lost-motion between them, regardless ofrepeated use of said device in removing and re-inserting the cap.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View partly in elevation showing theimproved device engaged with a milk bottle cap.

Fig. 2 is an upperend elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view as inclicated by line 33 of Fig. 2.

The drawing above briefly described illustrates one form of constructionand while such construction will be herein specifically explained, it isto be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed,minor variations may be made.

The numeral 4 denotes a straight vertically elongated shank, 5 hasreference to a disk of less diameter than a milk bottle cap and forminga shoulder at the upper endof the shank 4, and 6 denotes an appropriateoperating handle, the shank 4, disk or shoulder 5 and the handle 6 beingall unitarily united and preferably relatively secured, either byformation of the device from one piece of material or by soldering,brazing or otherwise securing separate pieces together, as may be mostdesirable. In the construction shown, the handle 6 is integral with theupper end of the shank 4: and the latter passes through a centralopening 7 in the disk 5, the

as indicated at 8.

The upper portion of the shank 4 is provided with a coarse screw thread9 and below this thread, the shank is smooth as denoted at 10 and istapered to a sharp penetration point 11. The shank portion 10-11 is bypreference in the form of a very acute cone.

In using the device to remove a milk bottle cap, the penetration point11 is rested upon the central portion of the cap and the entire deviceis given a downward thrust to the limit allowed by the disk or shoulder5. In thus forcing the shank 4 through the cap C, the tapered lower end10 of said shank outwardly crowds the displaced material D and henceplaces said displaced material under tension, with the result that assoon as the smooth portion 10 clears the cap 0, said displaced materialwill snap into tenacious engagement with the coarse thread 9. Hence, byslightly rotating the device by means of the handle 6, the cap C and thedisk or shoulder 5 are tightly clamped against each other and atenacious connection is provided between the device and the cap,allowing removal of the latter without any danger of the device becomingdisconnected from it. The device may remain attached to the cap as longas necessary and used repeatedly as means for conveniently reinsertingthe cap and removing it whenever required. Not only is a tight operatingconnection established between the device and the cap C, but the opening formed by the shank 4 in the cap, is tightly sealed by said shankand there is no loose movement between the cap and the removing andreinserting device. While the connection and seal are somewhat moreeffective if the-threaded portion of the shank 4 be tapered as shown,this may not in all instances be necessary.

lVhen the use of the device in connection with one cap is no longerrequired, a few turns of one with respect to the other, will so loosenthe connection between cap and thread that the shank may be readilypulled out of the opening, being then in readiness for further use withanother cap. Due to the difference in diameter between the cap C and thedisk 5, it is not essential that the exact center of the former belocated, through which to force the shank 4, and the connection and sealbetween the device and the cap 5 will be just as effective whether theshank 4: be forced through the exact center of the cap ortlinoughsaidccap at an eccentric point.

It will be seen fromthe foregoing that a device has been provided whichmay be easily m and inexpensively manufactured and sold at small cost,yet that :it will :be unusually efficient and desirable for removingmilk, bottle caps and reinserting them to act as closures for bottleswhich have only been partially emptied. The exact construction disclosedmay be followed :if desired, but within the scope of the invention asclaimed, minor'variations may be made as :above stated.

1 claim: 7 '20 .Anrilk bottle capremovingand re-inserting devicecomprising a disk to lie upon the cap, a straight shank projectingdownwardly from the central portion of said disk, and a handle fixedwith respect to the disk and shank, said shank :having its upper portionprovided with a coarsescrew thread-and having itsslower p ortion smoothand downwardly tapered to a sharp penetration point, downward thrustingofsaid shank through the 1330 Cap causing isaid tapered end thereof tooutavardly crowd the :displaced material, thereby placingrsaid displacedmaterial under :tenr-sion .and causing it to snap inwardly intotenacious engagement with said coarse screw 3'5 thread, whereby slightrotation \of the device by means of the 'handle'w-ill .causeasaid screwthread :to tightly clamp the cap "and disk together, :allowing said capto be repeatedlyremoved and inserted by means of 40 the device withoutbreaking the connection betweenxsaid .cap and device.

.In testimonywhereof .I have hereunto afifixed myxsigna'ture.

ROYAL BOLANJD. 4E5

